Select restaurants in Nanaimo will be donating a large portion of their sales on Thursday (April 30) to help those affected by HIV and AIDS.
The 10th annual Dining Out For Life, which benefits AIDS Vancouver Island, will see Browns Socialhouse, Noodlebox, Pirate Chips, 2 Chefs Affair, Firehouse Grill, Gina’s Mexican Café, Lighthouse Bistro and Pub, Smokin’ George’s BBQ Restaurant and Takeout, and The Thirsty Camel Café donating 25 per cent of sales to assist those afflicted by the diseases.
Don Corfield, owner and operator of Gina’s Mexican Café, said he takes part to give back to the community.
“It’s just part of our corporate profile,” said Corfield. “That’s where I’m at with it. I only do a certain number of things in a year and it’s one of the four or five things that I pick out.”
Proceeds will support AIDS Vancouver Island programs and services in Nanaimo, including the health centre on Victoria Road, which offers doctor, nurse and counsellor care for those who wish to begin HIV treatment and sexually transmitted infection testing, according to Johanna Henderson, Dining Out for Life spokeswoman.
AIDS Vancouver Island is working to eliminate new incidences of HIV infections, she said.
“It’s a really exciting time on Vancouver Island because we’re getting closer and closer each year to zero new infections ... and we really believe that the programs and services we offer, intervening with those folks are putting us closer to that,” Henderson said.
For more information about AIDS Vancouver Island, please visit www.avi.org.